The Honeywell Home X8S smart thermostat supports Matter and can Ring video doorbell integration | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.This new Honeywell Home smart thermostat can answer your Ring doorbellComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechSmart HomeCloseSmart HomePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Smart HomeThis new Honeywell Home smart thermostat can answer your Ring doorbellThe Honeywell Home X8S offers Matter, IAQ tracking, radar presence sensing, and a built-in doorbell viewer.The Honeywell Home X8S offers Matter, IAQ tracking, radar presence sensing, and a built-in doorbell viewer.by Jennifer Pattison TuohyCloseJennifer Pattison TuohySenior Reviewer, Smart HomePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jennifer Pattison TuohyDec 3, 2025, 5:11 PM UTCLinkShareIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.The X8S is a premium thermostat that supports Matter and works as a video doorbell intercom. Image: ResideoJennifer Pattison TuohyCloseJennifer Pattison TuohyPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy is a senior reviewer with over twenty years of experience. She covers smart home, IoT, and connected tech, and has written previously for Wirecutter, Wired, Dwell, BBC, and US News.Resideo’s newest thermostat looks like a compelling alternative to Nest or Ecobee if you’re looking for a premium smart thermostat. The Honeywell Home X8S is compatible with Matter, supports room sensors, and features a sleek 5-inch touchscreen that works as an intercom for Ring and First Alert video doorbells.RelatedFirst Alert’s new smart smoke alarm is meant to be a Google Nest Protect replacementHoneywell Home’s first Matter thermostat costs just $80The $219.99 thermostat launches this week, and thanks to Matter compatibility works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, and other smart home systems. It also includes indoor air quality monitoring, plus humidity and ventilation control.At $220 ($250 with a room sensor), it’s cheaper than the flagship $280 Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) but the same price as the $250 Ecobee Premium Thermostat, both of which come with a room sensor. Ecobee’s thermostats also act as video doorbell intercoms, but only with Ecobee’s doorbell camera. Nest thermostats don’t work with any video doorbells. (Bear in mind, this feature is mainly useful if your thermostat is in a convenient position for you to check as you head to your front door.)The thermostat doubles as a screen for viewing your video doorbell feed. Image: ResideoThe EnergyStar-certified X8S supports dual-band Wi-Fi, comes in black and white, and uses Honeywell Home’s universal wall plate, which should make for an easy upgrade. It supports up to four heat and two cool stages for heat pumps and up to three heat and four cool stages for conventional systems. It does require a C-wire.The 5-inch display shows indoor humidity, outdoor temperature, time, the current system settings, and thermostat controls. Customizable idle screens offer a five-day weather forecast, a digital clock, or IAQ info, and Residio says you can choose design themes and color combos to match your home décor.The X8S’s new room sensors support temperature, motion, and humidity sensing. Image: ResideoAn onboard radar sensor feeds presence data to the system’s auto-away feature, which adjusts its settings to save energy when you’re away. You can also use the new X8S wireless room sensors to include temperature, humidity, and occupancy data from other rooms. The X8S is backward-compatible with newer T9 sensors.Somewhat confusingly, remote control is through the First Alert app — because Resideo (which acquired the life safety company First Alert in 2022) is moving all its consumer products there. The Honeywell Home and Resideo apps still work for older products, but everything will eventually migrate to First Alert.The X8S lets you customize the screen in several different ways. Image: ResideoThe X8S is Resideo’s first new premium consumer thermostat since the T9/T10 line launched in 2019. Earlier this year, the company introduced its first Matter-compatible model, the lower-priced X2. The X8S’s main advantages are its support for more advanced systems and room sensors, its touchscreen interface and display, and video doorbell integration.You can buy the X8S now as a self-install model from HoneywellHome.com or Amazon, or if you want pro-installation, that’ll be the ElitePRO S1200 model.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jennifer Pattison TuohyCloseJennifer Pattison TuohySenior Reviewer, Smart HomePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jennifer Pattison TuohyNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsSmart HomeCloseSmart HomePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Smart HomeTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMore in: All the smart home news, reviews, and gadgets you need to know aboutThis Cyber Monday deal on smart glasses was too good for my husband to pass upJennifer Pattison TuohyNov 30The best Cyber Monday deals on some of my favorite smart home gearJennifer Pattison TuohyNov 30The best robot vacuumsJennifer Pattison TuohyNov 28Most PopularMost PopularOpenAI declares ‘code red’ as Google catches up in AI raceSteam Machine today, Steam Phones tomorrowSilicon Valley is rallying behind a guy who sucksHBO Max’s Mad Men 4K release is the opposite of a remasterMKBHD is taking down his wallpaper appThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The Honeywell Home X8S smart thermostat represents a significant step forward for Resideo, formerly known as First Alert, in the premium smart home market. As detailed by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, the X8S distinguishes itself through several key features, including Matter compatibility, integration with Ring video doorbells, indoor air quality (IAQ) tracking, radar presence sensing, and a 5-inch touchscreen display. The thermostat’s design emphasizes a user-friendly experience with customizable idle screens and a sleek aesthetic, aiming to seamlessly blend with diverse home décor through its color and design theme options.

Resideo is consolidating its consumer products under the First Alert brand, with the X8S being its first premium offering aligning with this shift. The thermostat supports up to four heat and two cool stages for heat pumps and up to three heat and four cool stages for conventional systems, adapting to various home heating and cooling setups. It requires a C-wire, a common requirement for many smart thermostats. Crucially, the X8S incorporates radar sensors for accurate presence detection, automating the thermostat’s settings to conserve energy when occupants are absent.

Beyond its core functionality, the X8S boasts a video doorbell intercom feature, primarily working with Ring and First Alert video doorbells, though this functionality’s utility hinges on the thermostat’s convenient positioning relative to the front door. The 5-inch touchscreen facilitates viewing of the video doorbell feed, alongside displaying essential information such as indoor humidity, outdoor temperature, the current time, and the system’s settings. The thermostat’s ability to connect with room sensors, which track temperature, motion, and humidity, expands its capabilities, providing valuable data for automating comfort and energy savings.

Resideo is targeting a discerning user base seeking a premium smart thermostat experience. The X8S's comprehensive feature set, combined with its Matter compatibility and integration with existing smart home ecosystems like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home, underscores Resideo’s commitment to innovation within the smart home landscape. The device’s emphasis on IAQ tracking and radar presence sensing reflects a growing trend toward holistic home automation, addressing not only temperature control but also air quality and occupancy patterns. Notably, the X8S’s transition towards First Alert’s brand indicates a broader strategic move for Resideo, promising future integration across its diverse portfolio of life safety and smart home products.